Jueces 13

Nacimiento de Sansón

1 Una vez más los israelitas hicieron lo que ofende al SEÑOR. Por eso él los entregó en manos de los filisteos durante cuarenta años.

2 Cierto hombre de Zora, llamado Manoa, de la tribu de Dan, tenía una esposa que no le había dado hijos porque era estéril.

3 Pero el ángel del SEÑOR se le apareció a ella y le dijo: «Eres estéril y no tienes hijos, pero vas a concebir y tendrás un hijo.

4 Cuídate de no beber vino ni ninguna otra bebida fuerte, ni tampoco comas nada impuro,

5 porque concebirás y darás a luz un hijo. No pasará la navaja sobre su cabeza, porque el niño va a ser nazareo, consagrado a Dios desde antes de nacer. Él comenzará a librar a Israel del poder de los filisteos».

6 La mujer fue adonde estaba su esposo y le dijo: «Un hombre de Dios vino adonde yo estaba. Por su aspecto imponente, parecía un ángel de Dios. Ni yo le pregunté de dónde venía, ni él me dijo cómo se llamaba.

7 Pero me dijo: “Concebirás y darás a luz un hijo. Ahora bien, cuídate de no beber vino ni ninguna otra bebida fuerte, ni de comer nada impuro, porque el niño será nazareo, consagrado a Dios desde antes de nacer hasta el día de su muerte”».

8 Entonces Manoa oró al SEÑOR: «Oh SEÑOR, te ruego que permitas que vuelva el hombre de Dios que nos enviaste, para que nos enseñe cómo criar al niño que va a nacer».

9 Dios escuchó a Manoa, y el ángel de Dios volvió a aparecerse a la mujer mientras esta se hallaba en el campo; pero Manoa su esposo no estaba con ella.

10 La mujer corrió de inmediato a avisarle a su esposo: «¡Está aquí! ¡El hombre que se me apareció el otro día!»

11 Manoa se levantó y siguió a su esposa. Cuando llegó adonde estaba el hombre, le dijo:—¿Eres tú el que habló con mi esposa?—Sí, soy yo —respondió él.

12 Así que Manoa le preguntó:—Cuando se cumplan tus palabras, ¿cómo debemos criar al niño? ¿Cómo deberá portarse?

13 El ángel del SEÑOR contestó:—Tu esposa debe cumplir con todo lo que le he dicho.

14 Ella no debe probar nada que proceda de la vid, ni beber ningún vino ni ninguna otra bebida fuerte; tampoco debe comer nada impuro. En definitiva, debe cumplir con todo lo que le he ordenado.

15 Manoa le dijo al ángel del SEÑOR:—Nos gustaría que te quedaras hasta que te preparemos un cabrito.

16 Pero el ángel del SEÑOR respondió:—Aunque me detengan, no probaré nada de tu comida. Pero si preparas un holocausto, ofréceselo al SEÑOR.Manoa no se había dado cuenta de que aquel era el ángel del SEÑOR.

17 Así que le preguntó:—¿Cómo te llamas, para que podamos honrarte cuando se cumpla tu palabra?

18 —¿Por qué me preguntas mi nombre? —replicó él—. Es un misterio maravilloso.

19 Entonces Manoa tomó un cabrito, junto con la ofrenda de cereales, y lo sacrificó sobre una roca al SEÑOR. Y mientras Manoa y su esposa observaban, el SEÑOR hizo algo maravilloso:

20 Mientras la llama subía desde el altar hacia el cielo, el ángel del SEÑOR ascendía en la llama. Al ver eso, Manoa y su esposa se postraron en tierra sobre sus rostros.

21 Y el ángel del SEÑOR no se volvió a aparecer a Manoa y a su esposa. Entonces Manoa se dio cuenta de que aquel era el ángel del SEÑOR.

22 —¡Estamos condenados a morir! —le dijo a su esposa—. ¡Hemos visto a Dios!

23 Pero su esposa respondió:—Si el SEÑOR hubiera querido matarnos, no nos habría aceptado el holocausto ni la ofrenda de cereales de nuestras manos; tampoco nos habría mostrado todas esas cosas ni anunciado todo esto.

24 La mujer dio a luz un niño y lo llamó Sansón. El niño creció y el SEÑOR lo bendijo.

25 Y el Espíritu del SEÑOR comenzó a manifestarse en él mientras estaba en Majané Dan, entre Zora y Estaol.

Jueces 13 Commentary

Chapter 13

The Philistines, Samson announced. (1-7) The angel appears to Manoah. (8-14) Manoah's sacrifice. (15-23) Birth of Samson. (24,25)

Verses 1-7 Israel did evil: then God delivered them again into the hands of the Philistines. When Israel was in this distress, Samson was born. His parents had been long childless. Many eminent persons were born of such mothers. Mercies long waited for, often prove signal mercies; and by them others may be encouraged to continue their hope in God's mercy. The angel notices her affliction. God often sends comfort to his people very seasonably, when they feel their troubles most. This deliverer of Israel must be devoted to God. Manoah's wife was satisfied that the messenger was of God. She gave her husband a particular account, both of the promise and of the precept. Husbands and wives should tell each other their experiences of communion with God, and their improvements in acquaintance with him, that they may help each other in the way that is holy.

Verses 8-14 Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet, as Manoah, have believed. Good men are more careful and desirous to know the duty to be done by them, than to know the events concerning them: duty is ours, events are God's. God will guide those by his counsel, who desire to know their duty, and apply to him to teach them. Pious parents, especially, will beg Divine assistance. The angel repeats the directions he had before given. There is need of much care for the right ordering both of ourselves and our children, that we may be duly separate from the world, and living sacrifices to the Lord.

Verses 15-23 What Manoah asked for instruction in his duty, he was readily told; but what he asked to gratify his curiosity, was denied. God has in his word given full directions concerning our duty, but never designed to answer other questionings. There are secret things which belong not to us, of which we must be quite contented to be ignorant, while in this world. The name of our Lord is wonderful and secret; but by his wonderful works he makes himself known as far as is needful for us. Prayer is the ascent of the soul to God. But without Christ in the heart by faith, our services are offensive smoke; in him, acceptable flame. We may apply this to Christ's sacrifice of himself for us; he ascended in the flame of his own offering, for by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, ( Hebrews 9:12 ) . In Manoah's reflections there is great fear; We shall surely die. In his wife's reflection there is great faith. As a help meet for him, she encouraged him. Let believers who have had communion with God in the word and prayer, to whom he has graciously manifested himself, and who have had reason to think God has accepted their works, take encouragement from thence in a cloudy and dark day. God would not have done what he has done for my soul, if he had designed to forsake me, and leave me to perish at last; for his work is perfect. Learn to reason as Manoah's wife; If God designed me to perish under his wrath, he would not give me tokens of his favour.

Verses 24-25 The Spirit of the Lord began to move Samson when a youth. This was evidence that the Lord blessed him. Where God gives his blessing, he gives his Spirit to qualify for the blessing. Those are blessed indeed in whom the Spirit of grace begins to work in the days of their childhood. Samson drank no wine or strong drink, yet excelled in strength and courage, for he had the Spirit of God moving him; therefore be not drunk with wine, but be filled with the Spirit.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO JUDGES 13

This chapter relates the birth of Samson, another of the judges of Israel, which was foretold by an angel to his mother, who told her husband of it, Jud 13:1-7 upon whose entreaty the angel appeared again, and related the same to them both, Jud 13:8-14 and who was very, respectfully treated by the man, and by the wonderful things he did was known by him to be an angel of the Lord, which greatly surprised him, Jud 13:15-23 and the chapter is closed with an account of the birth of Samson, and of his being early endowed with the Spirit of God, Jud 13:24,25.